​The San Francisco 49ers still enjoy a distinct edge at quarterback entering training camp, largely because they opted not to trade backup Mac Jones this offseason. In today’s NFL, a team can quickly slide from contender to uncertain when the starter goes down, but San Francisco proved last season that its championship hopes can survive if its starter is sidelined. Brock Purdy carried most of the load, and the club won 12 games largely on the strength of his contributions, while Jones went 5-3 in eight starts during Purdy’s absence due to a lingering toe issue.
Heading into the offseason, it looked possible the 49ers might move Jones to upgrade or reconfigure the depth chart behind Purdy. Yet the asking price for Jones proved too steep for teams seeking a proven backup, and San Francisco resisted lowering its valuation. There remains a chance a deal could happen, but as training camp begins, the 49ers remain in possession of Jones and preserve a crucial advantage: a reliable contingency atop a position that dictates the flow of any season.
A central question now is whether Jones can be a viable starter for a potential Super Bowl-winning team. Given his performance a year ago, the possibility exists, and it helped explain why San Francisco was reluctant to part with him for any price on the trade market. By keeping Jones, the 49ers protect their chances of remaining competitive even if Purdy misses time, while still presenting Purdy as the unquestioned QB1. Even if Jones performs well in a Purdy-absence situation again, it’s hard to envision the club making a permanent change at the sport’s most critical position.
With the top of the depth chart settled, attention turns to the back end of the QB room, where competition will unfold in the preseason. Brock Purdy is the cornerstone, but the battle for the third quarterback spot is far from settled. The roster currently features two other hopefuls: Rourke and Martinez. Martinez spent nearly all of last season on the 49ers’ practice squad and served as Jones’ backup on the active roster when Purdy was sidelined with a toe injury. Rourke spent most of the season on the non-football injury list while rehabbing from an offseason ACL repair, and the 2025 seventh-round pick got a handful of practices late in the year. Now, entering his second season, the door is open for him to compete for a roster spot, taking advantage of his late-season opportunities to showcase his development.
Two big questions loom for San Francisco at quarterback as camp unfolds. The first is Purdy’s health trajectory. He has dealt with various bumps and bruises throughout his NFL tenure, and while he has largely avoided a major injury that would cost him extended time, the cumulative wear-and-tear complicates forecasting a seamless 17-game slate. The second question is Jones’s future status. Injuries happen to any team, and if misfortune strikes the 49ers during a season, there could be a scenario where a team is compelled to part with valuable draft capital midseason to land Jones and preserve its postseason ambitions. As the quarterback room continues to unfold, San Francisco’s stance remains clear: keep the depth and maintain a healthy roster of signal-callers who can step in and compete when needed.